Flue-cleaner



J. U. WILER.

FLUE CLEANER.

(No Model.)

No. 398,483. Patented Feb. 26, 1889.`

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

JOHN U. .VILER, OF MANSFELD, OHIO.

FLU-CLEANER.

SPECFICATON forming part of Letters Patent No. 398,483, dated February 26, 1889i.

Application tiled May 4, 1888. Serial No. 272,788. (No model.)

ToaZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN U. W 1LER, a cilizen of the United Sta-tes, residing at Mansiield, in the county of Richland and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fine-Cleaners; and l do declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

M y invention relates to that class of fluecleaners which uses steam for the purpose of cutting the tar or soot which accumulates on the inside of boiler-fines.

The object of my invention is to provide a flue-cleaner which is simple in construction and more efficient in opera-tion.

With this object in view my invention con sists in certain combinations of parts hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

In order to make my invention more clearly understood I have shown in the accompanying drawings a means for carrying the same into effect.

In said drawings, Figure l is a plan view of a flue-cleaner embodying my invention. Fig. t? is a longitudinal section of the same provided with an additional controlling spring.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a pipe adapted to conduct steam and provided at its forward end with a tapered and springcontrolled head, B, adapted to iit and close l the end of a boiler-tube provided with a steamjet opening or openings, S, and capable of moving backward upon pipe A,when the stress of the spring is overcome, so as to open a valve or valves and place the interior of pipe A in communication with said opening S, with the result that a jet or jets of steam will be delivered into and against the interior of the boiler-tube so closed.

I will now describe in detail the preferred construction by which the head B is so mounted, controlled, and operated.

C is a sleeve Vfitting closely and adapted to slide upon the forward end of pipe A. A stuffing-box, l), lilled with any suitable packing, precludes the escape of steam rearwardly between the pipe and sleeve.- A spring, F, mounted in the forward end of sleeve O and reacting against the end of pipe A, or a spring, F', bearing against the rear of stuiiing-box D and reacting against a collar, XV, secu red upon said pipe, or both of said-springs, keep the said sleeve normally thrown forward.. lts movement in this direction is limited by the projecting flange of a cap, E, screwed into the forward end of pipe A. This cap at the same time closes the end of the pipe and makes it. steam-tight. and forms with the abutting sh oulder of sleeve C avalve,l, which the action of the spring or springs already referred to tends to keep seated and closed. The forward portion of the sleeve forms a chamber, preferably alittle larger in diameter than the outside of Apipe A, the front of which chamber is closed by a screw-cap, G, and the sides of which are provided with steam-escape openings L.

H indicates an opening or openings in the side of theforward end of pipe A, adapted, when said pipe is moved forward relative to sleeve O, to deliver steam into said sleeve and to openings L. The head B is mounted upon said sleeve and moves therewith. It is preferably adjustable by means of a screwthread, R, and is secured in its adjusted position by a jam-nut, I. The sleeve O has an outwardlyn projecting edge, c, and the hea-d a correspondingly inwardlyeprojecting or forwardly-pro jectin g edge or lip, l), and it is between these edges that the opening S is formed in the shape of a narrow circumferential slit. This is preferably so beveled as to direct the sheet of steam :forward and outward. rit-hin head B is a chamlmr, V, into which apertures L open.

The rear of pipe A is adapted tobe coupled to a flexible hose, which will extend to any convenient steanrsupply by means of a union, N, and coupling-sleeve l\[ and a T-coupling, J, while a suitable handle, P, of wood or hollow metal, is con neeted with pipe A by a re ducer, K', closed at its front end and by said T.

The operation of the cleaner is as follows: A flexibleV hose from a steamboiler is con-- nected with union N. The operator then, by means of the handle P, lifts the device and inserts the forward end of it into the tube to be cleaned, so that the opening S will be encircled by the tube while the edge of the lat.- icr bears against the conical or rounded periphery of the head B. The operator now presses forward on the handle with the result IOO that pipe A overcomes the stress of the sprin or sai-ings and moves forward in the sleeve lf situated in said chamber and bearinOp D 7 5 C. Valve U is thus unseated and openings H brought into position to deliver a volume of steam under pressure to openings L and chamber V. From the latter it esoap ys into the boiler-tube through opening or slit S imy thereon and having,` a tapered head, and a pinging forcibly upon the interior surface of the tube or flue to be cleaned and clearing it of all accumulations and obstructions. .Yhen the cleaning-oi' a iiue is completed, the pressure upon the handle P is relaxed, the valve against the end of said pipe for forcing the sleeve forward relative to said pipe, subst-air tially as set forth.

A3. The combination, with a steam-supply pipe, of a sleeve fitted to slide longitudinally steam-jet opening formed between relatively adjustable parts, a spring` for forcing said sleeve forward, and a valve and valve-seat independent of the j et-opening on said pipe and U is closed by the operation of the spring,

and the device may be removed to and inserted in another flue, and th e above-described operation repeated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States, is-

l: In a steam fine-cleaner, the eombin ation, with the steinn-supply pipe, of a spring-consleeve, which valve is closed by the action of the spring, and when closed prevents further movement of the sleeve relative to the pipe, substantially as set forth.

i. The combination, with a steam-supply pipe, of a sleeve fitted to slide thereon, a spring for forcing said sleeve forward upon the pipe, an outwardly-projecting iiange or edge upon 'the sleeve, and a tapered head shaped to cotrolled 'sleeve adapted to slide thereon and 1 having an outwardly-prejecting edge, and a tapered head, B, shaped to cao-operate with said projecting edge to produce a narrow steam-jet opening` and longitudinally-adjustable upon said slecve to regulate the size of said opening, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the steam-supply pipe, of a sleeve fitted to slide thereon and having a tapered head, B, said sleeve having a chamber in its forward end, and :i spring,

operate with said edge to form a narrow steamjet opening and adj ustably mounted upon a screw-thread upon said sleeve, substantially as set forth.

ln testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JGHN U. VILER.

Wi tnesses:

I. S. DoNNELL, SAML. MARRIOTT. 

